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Volunteer Snoops Coming to an ISP Near You?
The Register (US Version) ^
| 07/22/2002 at 10:31 EST
| Thomas C Greene in Washington
Posted on 07/22/2002 11:09:21 AM PDT by AdA$tra
Congress has been working on legislation to create a militia composed of 'technology experts' who will manage the telecommunications infrastructure in times of national emergency.
The Senate bill passed last week emphasizes disaster response, not terror prevention, with such things as patching leaky government servers and databases, setting aside bandwidth and developing interoperable standards for emergency communications, and organizing local teams of geeks ready to lend a hand putting it all back together in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
All that sounds quite reasonable and the initial budget of $35 million refreshingly modest. But before we applaud, let's recall two things. First, most people in government actually expect some al-Qaeda kiddiot crew to fry the Internet with worms and ping floods one day; and second, we've seen a tremendous interest by the current administration in encouraging citizens to rat each other out for 'suspicious behavior'.
One example of this trend is the Department of Justice (DoJ) Operation TIPS, a pilot program establishing a snitch-network of workers eager to report on citizens. The postal service was originally solicited, but demurred.
So while there's no language in the bill referring to any sort of communications or Internet monitoring, we have to wonder if the agency about to be created might find ways of exerting pressure on volunteers to 'keep an eye on things'.
It seems plausible that volunteer geeks whom the agency deems trustworthy to rat and keep their mouths shut (consider the irony of trusting someone who squeals) might be in for a bit of gentle arm-twisting.
Both the Senate and the House have passed measures; the next step is to sort out the differences and portion out the pork in conference committee. The senate version is S-2037. The House version is included in its Homeland Security legislation.
On a related topic, we note that EFF Chairman Brad Templeton has just put up a Web page where citizens can rat on TIPS rats in return.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: animalhouse; caddyshack; ramisisgod; spies; tips
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I especially like the idea of chalking the known informants with this symbol.
1
posted on
07/22/2002 11:09:21 AM PDT
by
AdA$tra
To: AdA$tra
I'm telling the government that you posted this.
2
posted on
07/22/2002 11:10:19 AM PDT
by
dead
To: dead
I'm telling EFF that you posted this.
3
posted on
07/22/2002 11:12:51 AM PDT
by
billybudd
To: billybudd
You just made the list too, buddy.
4
posted on
07/22/2002 11:13:30 AM PDT
by
dead
To: dead
Dean Wormer:
"As of this moment, they're on Double SECRET
Probation!"
5
posted on
07/22/2002 11:17:45 AM PDT
by
APBaer
To: AdA$tra
Kiss Free Speech goodby
6
posted on
07/22/2002 11:20:17 AM PDT
by
USA21
To: AdA$tra
What seems to be missing in this is that they aren't going to catch terrorists with this as they'll hide their messages in images and such and will be incredibly difficult, if not impossible to detect.
So they'll be left with being to snoop on ordinary citizens. I'm sure the number of home invasions will increase.
7
posted on
07/22/2002 11:23:54 AM PDT
by
lelio
To: APBaer
"It's time that somebody put their foot down. And that foot ... is me."
8
posted on
07/22/2002 11:27:25 AM PDT
by
strela
To: strela
Anyone ever heard of PGP? Encrypt your mail and keep the eyes out.
that is until they make it illegal to encrypt e-mail... like many nations have.
But that couldn't happen here... could it? hmmmm.
Freedom of Speech - watch what you say!
9
posted on
07/22/2002 11:48:20 AM PDT
by
efaust93
To: billybudd; dead
Kids, kids... the Illuminati know everything without being told...
10
posted on
07/22/2002 11:58:04 AM PDT
by
Cachelot
To: strela
"I think that this situation requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part......And we're just the guys to do it."
11
posted on
07/22/2002 12:07:34 PM PDT
by
wbill
To: wbill
"They can't do that to our pledges! Only WE can do that to our pledges!"
12
posted on
07/22/2002 12:10:04 PM PDT
by
strela
To: strela
Food-For-Thought Fight!
13
posted on
07/22/2002 12:15:30 PM PDT
by
PsyOp
To: strela
LOL!
"Nothing is over until WE say it is! Was it over when the ...Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Germans?
Forget it, he's rolling."
14
posted on
07/22/2002 12:18:52 PM PDT
by
wbill
To: PsyOp
BTW, you're all worthless and weak. Drop and give me 20.
15
posted on
07/22/2002 12:20:03 PM PDT
by
wbill
To: efaust93
Ever hear of Traffic Analysis ? Guess what happens when you suddenly start sending encrypted emails ??? Guess who gets a much closer look. Oh, and if you bought PGP commercially beyond version 5.0, expect it to have a backdoor.
Try GNU Privacy Guard instead. . .
16
posted on
07/22/2002 12:21:17 PM PDT
by
Salgak
To: wbill
ROAD TRIP!!!!!
17
posted on
07/22/2002 12:22:26 PM PDT
by
AdA$tra
To: AdA$tra
Fat, Drunk, and Stupid is no way to go through life, son.
18
posted on
07/22/2002 12:23:37 PM PDT
by
wbill
To: dead
You just made the list too, buddy.
Five bucks says we are all on that list!
19
posted on
07/22/2002 12:26:31 PM PDT
by
AdA$tra
To: dead
You just made the list too, buddy. And I'm gonna be watching you , buddy boy. Just becaus you're dead doesn't mean you don't need some watching.
Especially when it comes voting time.
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